Self-centeredness or patient-centeredness–final year nursing students’ experiences of learning at a clinical education ward (original) (raw)

Constructing a nursing identity within the clinical environment: The student nurse experience

Contemporary Nurse, 2014

Background: Nursing identity is an important element of being a nurse. Student nurses begin the construction of their nursing identity during their clinical placements. Aim: The aim of this research was to examine how the student nurses of a regional Australian university construct their identity when on off-campus clinical placement. Methods/ Design: Using a constructivist approach an online survey was used to elicit data in response to the question 'What elements are needed during the work integrated learning experience to enable undergraduate nursing students to construct their nursing identity?' Results/Findings: Findings reveal five key elements to the construction of students' nursing identity; positive role models, belonging, peer support, critical thinking abilities and confidence. Conclusion: Such findings are important as they provide information for student nurses, preceptors and educators in guiding clinical placement experiences that are able to facilitate the development of the nursing identity.

Student nurses experience of learning in the clinical environment

Nurse Education in Practice, 2010

The clinical learning environment is a complex social entity that influences student learning outcomes in the clinical setting. Exploration of this environment gives insight into the educational functioning of the clinical areas and allows nurse teachers to enhance students' opportunities for learning. Since Cyprus is undergoing major reforms in nursing education, building on the experience and knowledge gained, this study aims to explore the present clinical situation and how this would impact on nursing education moves to the university. As nursing education would take on a different approach, it is assumed the learning approach would also be different, and so utilization of the clinical environment would also be improved. Six hundred and forty five students participated in the study. Data were collected by means of the clinical learning environment and supervision instrument. A statistically significant correlation was found between the sub-dimensions ''premises of nursing care" and ''premises of learning" indicating that students are relating learning environment with the quality of nursing care and patient relationships. The ward atmosphere and the leadership style of the manager were rated as less important factors for learning. The majority of students experienced a group supervision model, but the more satisfied students were those with a ''personal mentor" that was considered as the most successful mentor relationship. The findings suggest more thorough examination and understanding of the characteristics of the clinical environment that are conductive to learning.

What students really learn: contrasting medical and nursing students’ experiences of the clinical learning environment

Advances in Health Sciences Education, 2014

This paper explores and contrasts undergraduate medical and nursing students' experiences of the clinical learning environment. Using a sociocultural perspective of learning and an interpretative approach, 15 in-depth interviews with medical and nursing students were analysed with content analysis. Students' experiences are described using a framework of 'before', 'during' and 'after' clinical placements. Three major themes emerged from the analysis, contrasting the medical and nursing students' experiences of the clinical learning environment: (1) expectations of the placement; (2) relationship with the supervisor; and (3) focus of learning. The findings offer an increased understanding of how medical and nursing students learn in the clinical setting; they also show that the clinical learning environment contributes to the socialisation process of students not only into their future profession, but also into their role as learners. Differences between the two professions should be taken into consideration when designing interprofessional learning activities. Also, the findings can be used as a tool for clinical supervisors in the reflection on how student learning in the clinical learning environment can be improved.

Teaching and learning care – Exploring nursing students’ clinical practice

Nurse Education Today, 2010

s u m m a r y Care has always been a key element of nursing. This paper presents findings from research on the following issue: What opportunities and limitations do nursing students encounter when learning nursing care? The study has a qualitative design with field methodology and the study of documents. Six nursing students have been closely monitored during their clinical studies in hospitals, nursing homes and homebased nursing. The study shows that nursing students are likely to possess the potential to provide care for sick and unknown people. The motivation for their commitment to patients may contain an egoistical orientation and runs contrary to former ideals of the nurse's self-sacrificing altruism. Moreover the study shows that there is a potential in the clinical field and in the university college to reflective considerations on experience of care. While clinical practice often has focus on practical problem-solving and procedures, the college tends to focus on abstract theory. Both of these promote the privatisation and neglect of the students' experience of care. The paper concludes with a call for teaching and learning strategies targeting the use of nursing students' personal experience of care.

Trying on the professional self: nursing students' perceptions of learning about roles, identity and teamwork in an interprofessional clinical placement

Applied Nursing Research, 2013

Aim: This study aims to describe how senior nursing students viewed the clinical learning environment and matured their professional identity through interprofessional learning in a student-led hospital 'ward'. Background: Undergraduate nursing and medical student teams participated in a trial of ward-based interprofessional clinical learning, managing patients over 2 weeks in a rehabilitation ward. Methods: Qualitative and quantitative program evaluation was conducted using exit student focus groups and a satisfaction survey. Results: Twenty-three nursing and medical students in three placement rounds provided positive feedback. Five main themes emerged describing their engagement in 'trying on' a professional role: 'experiencing independence and autonomy'; 'seeing clearly what nursing's all about'; 'altered images of other professions'; 'ways of communicating and collaborating' and 'becoming a functioning team'. Conclusions: Ward-based interprofessional clinical placements offer senior students authentic ideal clinical experiences. We consider this essential learning for future interprofessional collaboration which should be included in senior nursing students' education.

Nursing students’ and lecturers’ experiences of learning at a university-based nursing student–run health clinic

Reflective Practice

This article aims to describe the phenomenon of learning at a university-based nursing student-run health clinic, as experienced by student nurses and lecturers. The study is based on a reflective lifeworld research approach founded on continental philosophy. Eight group interviews were conducted with 38 student nurses and 5 lecturers. The data were explored and analysed for meaning. The results show that learning is supported by a permissive learning environment that builds on both individual and common learning as well as equal relationships within the student group, in relation to the visitors at the health clinic and, to a certain extent, in relation to the lecturers. The most significant finding is that reflective, development-oriented learning takes place when the students, supported by each other and their lecturers, reflect on how to relate to problems and situations. A situation-based learning approach is thus shown to create the prerequisites for lecturers being nearby, reflective dialogue partners but also supervisors in situations where the students ask for support and guidance.

International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-being The learning space—interpersonal interactions between nursing students, patients, and supervisors at developing and learning care units

Purpose: Previous research shows that the learning space is significant for students’ learning in pairs in clinical practice but does not explain the meaning of the phenomenon. The aim of this study is thus to explain and understand the learning space that occurs in the interaction between the patients, the pairs of nursing students, and the supervisors on a developing and learning care unit in Sweden. Method: The study has been carried out with a Reflective Lifeworld Research (RLR) approach founded on hermeneutics. A total of 39 informants, consisting of 16 patients, five pairs of students (10 students), and 13 supervisors, were observed and interviewed. Results: The results reveal that an interpersonal linkage between the patients, the students, and the supervisors is created within the learning space. A learning space, based on respect towards each other, creates the prerequisite for beneficial and supportive interactions that contribute to a deeper relationship. Conclusion: The phenomenon is complex due to its expandable nature and due to the fact that the learning space cannot be isolated from the surrounding environment. In order to exploit the potential of the learning space it is of importance to understand and consider the learning space as a whole.

How do nursing students experience the clinical learning environment and respond to their experiences? A qualitative study

BMJ Open

IntroductionOn entry into the clinical environment, nursing students are confronted with many challenges. It is a common problem throughout the world, including Iran. Although many studies have been conducted on the problems of nursing students in the clinical environment, limited information is available on nursing students’ experiences of the clinical learning environment and the way they respond to these experiences. Identifying nursing students’ experiences is essential to develop interventions to reduce challenges.ObjectiveThis study aimed to explore nursing students’ experiences in a clinical learning environment and the way they responded to these experiences.DesignThe present study was conducted based on the qualitative research design of the grounded theory methodology.SettingThis study was conducted at schools of nursing in academic settings in Iran.ParticipantsThe participants included 19 nursing students, 4 nursing instructors and 3 clinical nurses.MethodsThe data were c...

Challenges to student learning in the clinical setting: A qualitative descriptive study

Nurse education today, 2012

Clinical education is used throughout nursing to promote competency. Although this experience can be rewarding, students may face a variety of challenges within this context. The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study is to explore senior nursing students' perceptions of challenges to learning within the clinical setting. Three interrelated themes emerged from the data: (a) internal reactions to external limitations; (b) barriers experienced within the clinical environment; and (c) ineffective programme organisation. Findings are meant to guide educators and policy makers during decision making. The goal is advancement towards making the clinical environment a superior form of nursing education.